Your website must speak French - Quebec’s Bill 96

Translating a business website into French offers numerous benefits, however if your business operates in Quebec, it is also a requirement by Quebec’s new language law.

Bill 96, officially titled “An Act respecting French, the official and common language of Quebec”, aims to reinforce the use of French across various sectors, including commerce and business. This legislation impacts businesses significantly, mandating the use of French in public signage, communications, and notably, on websites.

*Please note, that this article should not be considered as legal advice.*

What is Quebec’s Bill 96

Bill 96* is a legislation introduced by the Coalition Avenir Québec government, that updates and strengthens the existing Charter of the French Language*, commonly known as Bill 101, which has served as the backbone of Quebec’s language laws since 1977.

The primary goal of this law is to protect and prioritize the use of French as the official language in Quebec, reflecting the province’s cultural and linguistic heritage and its status as a French-speaking province. For businesses, this means adapting to a framework where French is not just a preference but a requirement.

Bill 96 covers various sectors, including business, education, and public administration, mandating the use of French and providing strict regulations to ensure compliance.

The law sets financial penalties for non-compliance. For a legal entity the fines now range from $3,000 to $30,000 per day, which can be doubled for the second and tripled for a third violation.

While several sections of Bill 96 already came into force in June 2022, other requirements have gradually come into effect.

*For details on the requirements for your business and how to meet them, consult your legal advisor*

How does Bill 96 impacts businesses

The adoption of Bill 96 introduces new obligations for businesses, in terms of language use in workplaces, employment documentations, contracts, public signage, product trademarks and instructions, customer communications and marketing materials.

The new law stipulates that workplaces must foster an environment where employees can work in French without pressure to use another language. All employment documentation and internal communications must be written in French.

In Quebec, a business is required to serve customers in both English and French, honoring the consumers’ right to information and service in French. Services must be available in French at least the same level as other languages.

All public signs and posters visible inside or outside the establishment must be in French. When there’s another language displayed as well, the French text must have a significantly greater visual impact.

Packaging, labels, and promotional content must feature French text prominently, at least as visibly as other languages. By June 1, 2025, non-French descriptive terms within trademarks need to be translated.

To comply with the law companies must ensure that all of the commercial documents and communications are available in French. This includes catalogues, product instructions, advertising, contracts, invoices and customer service interactions. This also extends to websites, which are often the first point of contact between a business and its customers.

Easyling can help you make your website speak French-Canadian

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